Kokoda Track, mining and indigeous rights

There is no doubt that the story of the Kokoda Track is essential to how Australians regard themselves and their place in the world. Some might even say that the track, where Aussie diggers started to push back the Japanese Empire in World War II, is sacred.

But for thousands of citizens of independent Papua New Guinea the track is home. And, beneath that home there's an estimated $6.7 billion gold and copper deposit. They want to mine it. They argue that the descendants of the "fuzzy wuzzy angels" who helped save so many Australian wounded should not be made to stay poor.

A row is now raging over what should happen with village protesters blocking the track to Australian trekkers.

Have your say.

Posted
by SMH OnlineFebruary 8, 2008 12:00 AM

LATEST COMMENTS

Here we go again. Aussies claim ownership of places which we have no entitlement to, like Gallipoli and Kokoda, at the expense of those who live there.

But we only do it to countries which don't or can't adequately stop us. Imagine the outcry if people started laying sentimental claims to the farmlands which used to be the Western Front.

Posted by: Thea on February 7, 2008 2:33 PM

The only thing that's sacred are the needs of people in the here and now.

That's why we fought the war.

Posted by: Paul on February 7, 2008 3:11 PM

It's PNG's land. They have a right to mine it if so desired. The villagers have a right to a decent standard of living. Simple as that.

And let's also not forget why the Australians were there to start with. They were there to fight to protect our way of life, our sovreignty. For the Australian government to pressure the PNG government into blocking the mine proposal, to so impose our "might" on a lesser-developed country, would completely defeat the spirit of freewill that the diggers fought so hard for in the first place. If that was to be the case, why bother protecting a piece of history that we have no respect for to start with?

Posted by: A on February 7, 2008 3:20 PM

Their country, their resources, their decision. If Australia does not want a mine there, then grow up and fork over $10Billion as compensation.

Posted by: Showerbucket on February 7, 2008 3:35 PM

I'm booked to go in May - back of Mr Rudd - I support PNG's rights and would be have to have a slight detour - its there country not yours and you are affecting all protential trekers

Posted by: Paul on February 7, 2008 8:27 PM

Option 1 : those concerned about the track pay $6.7 billion to the citizens who live around it and stand to benefit from the mining: or
Option 2 : those concerned about the track not pay $6.7 billion and shut up!

Posted by: AntiConservative on February 7, 2008 8:56 PM

Stinks? I guess Rudd's had one too many nights in 5 star hotels. Our diggers are indebted to the people of PNG for their help during the war, and what have we really done for them? Oh, we might send highly paid public servants to dole out small amounts of aid here and there, but it's not really gotten the country very far. Most of us wouldn't have our animals endure the miserable lives many of these people lead.

Shame on Mr Rudd and those "patriots" who think that the memory of suffering is far more important than the utter deprivation endured in PNG today. It seems Australia is content for our "fuzzy wuzzy angels" to remain as cultural relics, socially and financially resigned to the scrapheap of our global society.

I've always considered myself a very, very proud Australian, but I'd feel no pride in the preservation of a small piece of track at the expense of these villagers, no pride at all.

Posted by: Lisa on February 8, 2008 12:33 AM

The last I heard, Papua New Guinea was still a foreign country. What a joke that we're still trying to lay claim to their land, especially after the bungle at Anzac Cove. I think we should really start mapping parts of Iraq and Afghanistan that we want to label as 'sacred', and threaten legal injunctions against villagers and locals who have lived in certain areas in a foreign country for most of their lives. Our sense of foreign entitlement would be a laugh if it wasn't so pathetic.

Posted by: David on February 8, 2008 6:15 AM

This is only happening because some people thing they can bully Papua New Guinea into doing what they want.
You could call it a colonial outlook!
And to claim the whole 100km track as a memorial to Australia's fallen.
Why not claim Milne Bay, Buna, etc as well.
You can imagine what would happen if Australia tried to tell France what the French could develop in Pozieres, Passchendaele,Somme etc etc.
It is up to the PNG Govt to decide on how to manage THEIR Country.
I don't see the PNG government telling Australia on how to develop Kakadu!

Posted by: Allan on February 8, 2008 8:06 AM

The arrogance of thinking that we should be given rights over PNG men and women! If we wish to be part of the solution surely we should listen, cooperate and be thankful if the Kokoda Trail can still be a memorable experience, even if not exactly the same. Mining and tourism coexist here to all our benefits, why not in PNG?

Posted by: Margaret on February 8, 2008 8:58 AM

If the mini-US of the Pacific is so keen to preserve the site, then the PNG locals should take an estimate of the minerals, project what that can buy their society and have the Aussie pay compensation and foot the bill for building/upgrading PNGs infrastructure.

Posted by: Jim on February 8, 2008 10:40 AM

The only thing that's sacred are the needs of people in the here and now.

That's why we fought the war.

Posted by: Paul on February 7, 2008 3:11 PM

The hallmark of remembrance is memory. Why shouldn't the PNG people benefit from mining their resources when many other developed country has prospered?

Isn't the term "fuzzy wuzzy angels" terribly patronising?

Posted by: realitycheck on February 8, 2008 11:09 AM

PNG is an independent nation. The diggers who fought on Kokoda were there to free PNG from the ravages of Japanese militarism. It seems a little ironic that some outsiders wish to dictate what goes on in PNG. What was the point of the huge human sacrifice to gain freedom in World War2? Surely the soveriegn right of PNG's citizens to determine what happens to their land looms large in the answer to the previous (rhetorical) question. "Lest we forget" in relation to the heroism of the Kokoda veterans is best commemorated by Australians by seeking to emulate their courage and selflessness in our lives each day: it is our practices in response to the example of our fine veterans that should be the real, on-going tribute to all they did and gave. At this point in time, it is safe to say that many of us have a lot to learn from the Kokoda diggers (in fact all of our World War II Pacific diggers). We are a selfish, materialistic society in so many ways.

Posted by: Nic W on February 8, 2008 11:57 AM

realitycheck,

Let me clarify. I endorse the PNG people in their plan to mine this section of the track - it's their land. I think the diggers would understand.

Don't jump on the fuzzy-wuzzy term. They speak pidgeon english and it may not have been intended as sarcasm.

Posted by: Paul on February 8, 2008 1:41 PM

Australia has no right to act in this fashion and damage our relations with neighbours to whom we owe so much.

And Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, as recognized by my PNG friends, was and is a term of endearment.

It's getting a bit late now but see if you can find someone who fought on that trail and get some stories about the Angels who helped. You may find it illuminating.

Posted by: Nan on February 8, 2008 4:55 PM

PNG is a sovereign country and has every right to mine it if they wish.
The most sensible solution is to re-route the track to allow the mine to be built. This would have virtually no impact on the overall experience of completing the trek.
Kevin Rudd has demonstrated his inexperience and naivety as a political leader. His comments show arrogance and a lack of respect for the people of PNG.
Australia should help our friends in PNG achieve their goals because our friendship with them is more important than anything else.

Posted by: John on February 10, 2008 9:28 AM

This is all about greed, by some PNG nationals who pretend to speak for the masses, and by a miner destined to follow the likes of BHP at Oktedi. Ofi Creek has already been polluted by the exploration. The locals will end up with a raped landscape and precious little to show for it, eg Eduvu saw mill 20 kms east, villagers paid 6 kina/day and their land and water ruined. Our diggers were not fighting to save PNG, they were fighting on Australian mandated territory, like the ACT is now, to save Australia. All you do gooders should learn your history and go and have a look before you comment.